Yoke does not want to come off pinion

Nothing can ever be easy...

Was replacing U joints and the oil seal.. Got the pinion nut off after speaking in PB and using an air wrench.. It was on there really tight.

Now I can't get the dang yoke off.. I smothered it in pb overnight and I'll do that again this morning before work.

I've seen where people have suggested using a steering wheel puller and the U joint straps...

Any other suggestions?

 

I just use a 2 jaw gear puller . works every time

 

A stout 2 or 3 jaw puller needs to be used.............a little heat applied at the yoke will also help to get it loose.

 

Rented a 2 jaw puller ill try tonight. There is just a nut that holds the yoke on, correct? not like a retaining washer or anything..

 

Yep, just splines after the nut/washer is off. They can either be stuck by rust or RTV if someone used that to seal the splines (actually a good practice). A straight bar type puller and some 5/16's bolts through two of the yoke U-bolt holes is usually sufficient. The real problem is re-tightening the yoke nut. The preload given in the FSM is not relevant since those numbers are for only the pinion-no gears/axles/etc. You have to guess and the best guess is usually as tight as you can get it-200 ft lbs or so.

 

The 2 jaw puller worked like a charm. Thanks guys

 

I was thinking of taking mine off too as I can't seem to get it tight enough to stop any play. I assume there is a bearing/seal I can replace too or do I need to crack open the case?

 

Are you talking rotational play, radial play, axial play? Loose splines?

 

To be simplistic, if you just grab it and wiggle as if the nut was loose it has play in it. Not when you spin it as i know that would be more about the gears.

 

The Spline is worn out...........or in other words the dimensions between the two parts are greater than they should be.........In the case of a Yoke attached to a Pinion , the pinion gear through the needed heat treat process to preserve that part would be much harder on a Rockwell scale as compared to a non-heat-treated Item such as a lowly Yoke.........Need to replace the yoke. Get a new lock nut while your at it.